Fly Tipping Incident Update — Pilton
Date of Incident: 1 April 2025 | Report Date: 15 April 2026
Cllr Claire Sully, Mendip South division
Where We Are Now
I have met with the Envirocrime team, who are actively working on this and many other cases every week. I want to reassure residents that this is a team with real expertise and a track record — cases do go to court, and they often succeed. Their work in this area has a long and established history, and the Mendip team is leading the way, sharing their expertise across the county.
I am pleased to be able to report that there are genuinely positive lines of enquiry in this case. These would not have existed without the swift and determined actions of a whole collective of residents working together, whose combined efforts set everything in motion.
The Power of Community Action
Thanks to the efforts of an exceptional collective of local residents, we have demonstrated clearly that this community will not stand for this kind of behaviour. The site was cleaned up within 48 hours of the incident, with support from our MP, and the response has shown what can be achieved when a community acts together with speed and purpose.
This united front matters. The biggest positive step we can take — in this case and every future case — is to be a community that cares and loudly makes that clear, by reporting incidents and standing together as we have done here.
Lines of Enquiry and Next Steps
There are positive lines of enquiry underway. The pathway to prosecution can be challenging — evidential difficulties are a genuine factor — but this does not mean cases are not pursued. The options available, should evidence support it, include:
- A fixed penalty notice
- Prosecution through the courts, where if proven, penalties can include an unlimited fine and/or a custodial sentence
- Confiscation of any vehicle used in the offence
Understanding How Fly Tipping Happens — A Wider Point
It is worth making a broader point that is not necessarily specific to this case, but is important for all residents to understand. In many fly tipping incidents, the person whose waste is dumped is far removed from the person physically committing the act. Fly tipping frequently occurs when someone arranges for a third party to collect their waste, without checking whether that person holds the relevant waste carrier licence and permissions.
Crucially, under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Section 34), anyone who produces, carries, keeps or disposes of controlled waste has a legal Duty of Care to ensure it is handled safely and legally. It is not enough to hand your waste to someone and assume it will be dealt with responsibly. Where this duty of care has not been met, the originator of the waste — not just the person who dumped it — can face prosecution. This is an important and often misunderstood aspect of the law.
Going forward, I would ask all residents to take two simple steps: first, check that anyone collecting your waste holds the relevant waste carrier licence and permissions; and second, always obtain a receipt or Waste Transfer Note from any private business that collects your waste. Keep it safe — it is your evidence that you met your legal obligation. If in doubt, do not use them.
Next Update
A further update on the progress of this case is expected in approximately six weeks. In the meantime, please keep your eyes open and continue to report any incidents. What we have shown in Pilton is that community vigilance works — let us keep it up.
Related articles:
https://clairesully.com/major-fly-tipping-incident-cleared-within-48-hours-thanks-to-swift-council-action-local-residents-reporting/